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Scottish heritage boss stands down less than a year into role

Scottish Parliament Sir Mark Jones, with grey hair, looks to his left while sitting in front of a dark background. He is wearing a dark grey suit, a white shirt and an orange tie. Scottish Parliament
Sir Mark Jones was appointed chairman of HES in September

Sir Mark Jones, chairman of Historic Environment Scotland (HES), has stepped down nine months into a four-year contract.

It comes after a probe was launched within the heritage body in October last year following allegations of corruption and an internal racism row.

Reports also revealed a senior leader at the organisation was sanctioned for allegedly "twerking" in front of actor Martin Compston.

A report by the auditor general in the same year, found it had "unacceptable weaknesses" in leadership. It said HES lacked "sufficiently robust policies" in place to mitigate the risk of fraud.

HES is an arms-length body, which receives Scottish government funding, maintaining more than 300 historic sites including Edinburgh Castle.

Historic Environment Scotland Katerina Brown has shoulder-length, brown hair. She is smiling while standing in front of Edinburgh Castle. She is wearing a black and white shirt and a black jacketHistoric Environment Scotland
Katerina Brown was suspended after an investigation into her conduct but has since returned to work

A spokesperson for HES said Jones would remain chairman until a successor was appointed, to ensure a smooth handover.

He said: "We are grateful for Sir Mark's leadership and commitment to HES during a challenging period for the organisation."

Responding to Audit Scotland's report last year, Sir Mark had said he accepted the "serious governance issues and cultural problems identified".

He spoke about the "impact of recent leadership instability" – with the report claiming it was "unacceptable" that the organisation operated without an accountable officer for almost six months, between 2 May and 20 October last year, when chief executive Katerina Brown returned to work.

In September last year, The National reported that the body's operations director, Craig Mearns, had faced disciplinary measures over comments made about visitors at Edinburgh Castle. He was allowed to continue in his job.

Then the Scotland on Sunday, reported that an HES senior leader had been sanctioned over claims she danced provocatively by "twerking" at a corporate event at Edinburgh Castle in 2023.

The senior manager was said to have made celebrity guests Martin Compston and Penny Lancaster "uncomfortable".

Getty Images A crowd of people filing into Edinburgh Castle, a large medieval-style castle. Steep stone walls, turrets and towers rise from a flat entrance flanked by smaller walls. Colourful flags flutter against a blue sky. Getty Images
Historic Environment Scotland manages about 300 sites, including Edinburgh Castle

Murdo Fraser, Scottish Conservative culture spokesman, said the chairman's premature resignation was further evidence of the SNP's "chronic mismanagement of this toxic quango."

He said: "Historic Environment Scotland has spent years mired in scandal and crisis while the former culture secretary, Angus Robertson, was asleep at the wheel, failing to engage with the board and misleading parliament about his supervision of the organisation.

"Now the man brought in by the SNP to sort out the bullying and grotesque misuse of funds has thrown in the towel after barely a year in the post.

"HES receives more than £70m worth of taxpayers' money every year, so nationalist ministers must sort out this mess immediately."

Culture Secretary Màiri McAllan said: "The Scottish government is grateful to Sir Mark for his service.

"During a period of significant scrutiny and change, he has provided strong leadership.

"We appreciate his commitment and the valuable contribution he has made."